Delhi Capitals recently suffered a 47-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad of their IPL 2026 match on Tuesday on the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Batting first, SRH posted a mammoth total of 242/2 of their allotted 20 overs, with opener Abhishek Sharma smashing 135 off 68 deliveries.
In reply, DC could manage only 195/9 despite good efforts from Nitish Rana and Sameer Rizvi. Nevertheless, DC opener and wicketkeeper KL Rahul has come under the scanner for his sluggish knock of 37 off 23 balls, which included only one boundary and three sixes, and failed to offer the momentum required within the powerplay as well. And, former India opener Aakash Chopra was critical of Rahul’s approach, questioning his intent as well.
“I believe the query must be asked. He faced 23 balls for the 37 runs he scored, but what number of attacking shots did he actually play? In my humble opinion, while you’re chasing a 240-plus total and fail to capitalise on the powerplay, there’s a 99.5 percent probability you’re going to lose the match. It’s a mountain to climb anyway, however the intent felt missing. I didn’t feel they gave it every thing that they had while chasing such an enormous total,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
KL Rahul played a sluggish knock
“He could have been carrying a niggle; it did seem to be that. But once more, this is identical mistake LSG made the opposite day. In case you don’t go all out and as a substitute adopt a conservative approach while chasing such totals, you’re going to lose anyway. The query then is-did you give your best? Not enough, for my part,” he again added.
He also raised concerns about KL Rahul’s wicketkeeping, sharing a vital error behind the stumps that gave Abhishek Sharma a lifeline as well.
“KL Rahul does keep wickets for India within the ODI setup as well, but let’s be very honest-he is a batter who keeps wickets, not the opposite way around. Most wicketkeepers are keepers first after which contribute with the bat. Mistakes can occur to anyone, but when it’s KL Rahul, you do start questioning the general value. If, as a keeper, you miss possibilities, it sometimes nullifies whatever contribution you make with the bat,” he concluded.
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